TRAFFIC is still choking the A40 and A44 due to unexpected work being carried out on the Wolvercote and Cutteslowe roundabouts.

Roadworks were due to start on Tuesday but Vodafone arrived on the site yesterday to move equipment and services ahead of the major project, which will run for about 18 months.

Oxford Bus Company spokesman Phil Ashworth said bus services were being delayed, but could not be sure for how long.

He added : "The work is causing some delays on the Number 300, 6 and 2 buses. It seems that a lane has been taken out between Cutteslowe and Wolvercote."

One commuter said he had got off the bus on the A44 after being stuck in unmoving traffic for 45 minutes.

The 39-year-old added: "I’ll cycle to work. There’s lots and lots of very frustrated people stuck on the A40 and A44. But drivers are saying that they have cut down a lane.

"Why have the council started the roadworks today? It’s also the last day of school, so it’s already very busy."

An Oxford Bus Company spokeswoman said at 8.30am that some work had started, but services had not been late "so far".

Commuter Gary Hicks, 48, took two hours to get to work this morning.

He said: "I arrived at the Golden Balls roundabout at Yarnton at 7.25am and got to Loop Farm roundabout at 8.17am, and was diverted via Kidlington and Islip. The total time from Hook Norton to work in Cowley was 25 miles, just under two hours.

"It’s unacceptable that part of the ring road should be reduced to one late during rush hour for planned works, with no notice given. If I’d have known in advance I would have come via the Ring Road."

Oxfordshire County Council spokesman Paul Smith said: "This is work being undertaken by Vodafone to move equipment/services ahead of county council work next week. We have now spoken to Vodafone regarding their traffic management arrangements - which required the closure of a lane to traffic in the interests of pedestrian safety.

"The county council’s work is being undertaken to improve capacity at these two roundabouts. For a long time the council has been receiving requests from members of the public for improvements in capacity on Oxford’s roads. Sadly, such major roadworks jobs cannot be completed overnight. We wish they could.

"We have for some time now been advising very clearly that there will be disruption when the Wolvervote and Cutteslowe work begins and we have asked people to consider alternative routes and use of public transport.

"We had similar issues at Kennington Roundabout in 2014. There was disruption. However there are now vast improvements in traffic flow at that part of the ringroad. We ask people to bear with us for the sake of a positive end result."